“Tortoises are a lot sprightlier than most people think,” said Andy Rodgers, who owns the Lincoln pet and reptile centre.

“They can actually move at a fair old pace and quite often they will go missing as their owners put them outside in the summer thinking they will stay where they are but they get up and go.

“They are free-roaming creatures that will just walk and walk in the hunt for food. Every step they take is a step closer to food.

“If a tortoise is ready to mate they will enthusiastically look to interact and that is why they can often be seen mating with inanimate objects such as footballs and shoes.

“They are a common household pet in the UK, but are continuous wanderers.

“Owners do not need a licence to legally own one like many would have you believe. However, they will need a document to prove that the animal has been bred in captivity and not snatched from the wild.”